Overhead door structure



c. J. 'MANVILLE 2,472,602

OVERHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE June 7, 1949.

Filed Jan. 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 7, 1949. c. J. MANVILLE 2,472,602

OVERHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE FiledJan'. 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .-P.I B

. INVENTOR. (710x15: .IM/m/wus.

Patented June 7, 1949 OVERHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Charles J. Manville, Pontiac, Mich., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The Burt Manufacturing Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 17, 1947, Serial No. 722,510

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an overhead door structure suitable for garages and the like.

This application is a continuation, in part, of copending application Serial No. 683,556, filed guly 13, 1946, and entitled Overhead door strucure.

One of the objects of the invention is to devise an operating mechanism for a single piece door construction, by which the door will be counterbalanced and can be raised and lowered with a minimum of effort. It is also an object of the invention to devise new and improved mechanism which will rotate the door on a horizontal axis as it is raised and lowered so that as it rises it turns from the vertical position across the door opening to a horizontal position near the ceiling of the garage or other building. The motion of the door is reversed in lowering.

Overhead doors have been devised which se cure these results but all commercial doors of this type have either been made of hinged sections or it has been necessary to provide a horizontal track which supports and guides the upper portion of the door in its movement, together with a vertical track which supports and guides the lower portion of the door. It is an object of the present invention to devise a simple and efficient mechanism for a solid or one-piece door which dispenses with all horizontal tracks or guideways and employs only vertical tracks arranged alongside the door opening.

In the door construction shown and described herein, the door is pivotally supported at a point intermediate its ends on two rollers which move along the vertical trackways. on the axis provided by the rollers and as it moves up or down it is compelled to pivot on the axis of the rollers by means of two links, each of which is pivotally connected at a point adjacent the top of the door and at a fixed point located at the side of the door opening below the roller.

One of the principal advantages of the mechanism shown herein resides in the fact that the center of rotation of the door is always located in the plane of the door opening. Another advantage is that due to the absence of overhead tracks and the like the door may be located, when in open position, much closer to the ceiling than has been possible with earlier overhead door constructions. Further advantages are economy and simplicity of installation.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be under- The door rocks 2 stood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the side of a door, the associated casing and so-called hardware looking toward same from the interior of a structure having the overhead door closed opening, the open door holding catch being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the said casing hardware and door, the parts being shown in open door position, the closed door holding catch being omitted, and one form of open door holding catch being illustrated in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the same parts, the holding catches being omitted for clearness.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of the open door catch mechanism in holding position, the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of open door catch structure.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a further modified form of open door catch structure.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of a track and modified form of shock absorber and catch structure.

Fig. 9 is a view transverse thereto.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of a modified form of track and silencer.

Fig. 11 is a view transverse thereto.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on line |2|2 of Fig. 10 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the modified structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

In Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings I0 indicates a side and II the lintle of a casing defining an opening l2 to be closed by a door l3. Since, in general, the hardware at opposite sides of the opening is identical, although obviously reversed, the disclosure will be confined to but one side.

Herein there is suitably secured to the rear of side I0 adjacent opening [2 a vertical rail, preferably in the form of a channel or angle having base plate portion I4 and side plate portion I5. If the latter is of considerable width it is notched out as at I5 see Fig. 3, for axle clearance. If of a width less than the difierence of the radius of the guide wheel and radius of the axle this portion is not notched.

Herein wheel 16 rolls upon base plate portion I4 and is carried by axle I! in turn carried at an upper portion of the door, the wheel being disposed in outboard relation to the side of the door.

Suitably secured to said side of the door by means not shown is the strap or bar I8 which herein is illustrated as projecting slightly above the top of "the door. This end is apertured at I9 to pivotally receive angular end of brace member or link 2I, same being suitably secured together as at 22, the other end of said link being provided with hook portion 23 pivoted upon. the side plate portion I5 at aperture 24.

The door may carry an externally controlled lock 25 having a bolt 26 to lie'behind side plate portion I5 and prevent unauthorized opening of the door. Locks may b provided at opposite sides of the door and coordinated for single key control, as well understood in the art. Whenever the width of portion I5 is sufilciently large, said portion will be apertured for lock bolt seating therein.

' Reference will now be had more particularly to the power for effecting door opening. Spring 21 has one end engaged in hook 28 struck from base plate portion I4. The other and lower end of said spring is engaged by the eye 29 of a screw bolt 30 that is extended through aperture 3| in an end cap or plate 32 and the cap exposed end adjustably mounts nut 33.

Cap 32 seats the lower end of a tube 34 that extends through said sprin 21. It is slotted as at 35 to accommodate the spring end. A guide and retainer 36 is suitably anchored as at 3! to vbase plate I4 and serves to maintain spring alignment, the spring being comparatively free.

The upper end of said tube 34 is notched as at 38 and therein is seated an extension of axle II, head 39 in the tube preventing lateral separation. Thus when the lock is released spring 21 contracts, elevating tube 34 to raise aXle Il thereby raising the door. Such movement is modified'by brace member or link 2| so that as roller or wheel I6 rolls upward upon the track (base plate I4) the upper end of the door recedes rearwardly into the structure and the lower end of the door is projected outwardly and upwardly. The force of the two springs 34 is adjusted to overcome the weight of the door and friction and is suflicient to just hold the door elevated.

' Tube 34, therefore, constitutes a push up device. It is tubular solely for lightness in weight and other conveniences. Itcould be a solid bar if desired. 5

Reference will now be had more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 for th shock absorber and door "open holding latch structure which herein is combined into one unit. Base plate I4 is provided with two spaced pairs of spaced slits 40 and the stock between each pair is struck outwardly at M to form a socket to seat tongue 42 terminating in bearing plate 43 apertured at 44. An elongated rod 45 is slidably mounted in apertures 44 and retained by cotter keys 46.

A plate 41 has two parallel edge flanges 48 tapered as at 49 and apertured at 50 so as to be slidable on rod 45. Between each bearing plate 43 and flange 48 and concentric with the rod is coil spring 5I.

Also coiled about the rod is a torsion spring 52 having one end 53 bearing on base plate l4 and its other and'angular end 54 bears on plate 47,

see Fig. 4. Said spring 52 constrains plate 4! to counter-clockwise tilted position. The plate may be tilted clockwise upon rod 45 as by rope 55, same being permitted by taper 49. Plate 41 has two slits 56 and .the stock therebetween is directed 4 outwardly as at 51. Tube 34 near its upper end includes a notch 58.

When the door is opened tube 34 is elevated by spring 21. When the notch 59 registers with tongue 51 (Fig 4) the two become engaged. Then the door structure is caught or latched. However, if the opening force exceeds that required, the upper spring 5I serves as a shock absorber and on rebound, as it were, same is absorbed by lower spring 5|. Thus the door opening move- ,ment is cushioned at the end thereof and the door is latched open to prevent wind closing of same.

Reference wil1 now be had more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6. Herein base plate H4 and side plate H5 are illustrated. The latter is notched at H5 and apertured at I66. The door H3 mounts axle H1 carrying wheel or roll H6 bearing on plate H4 and terminating in head I39 seated in slot I38 of push tube I34.

Pivotally supported at I6I (see aperture I66) is a catch plate I62 having cam face I63 and axle seating recess I64. Plate I62 has a laterally di rected apertured ear I85. Extending through the ear aperture and carried by base plate H4 is threaded member I66 mounting washer I61, wing nut I66 and spring I69.

Spring I69 normally constrains the latch to latching position with a force determined by the adjustment of spring I69. When the axle elevates it engages cam face I63, tilts the latch against spring I69 until the axle is trapped in seat I64 whereupon the spring I69 holds the door in elevated position against wind lowering. Positive pulling down upon the door or a door pull withdraws axle II! from its seat so that the door can be lowered. In this form also spring I69 serves, to a lesser extent, as a shock absorber.

Reference will now be had to Fig 7. Herein the track 2I4 has side plate 2I5 of a width to clear the axle 2, hence, no notch therein is required. Axle 2I'I' mounts wheel 2| 6 bearing on base plate 2l4 and again is associated with a push bar or tube.

Rigid with flange 2I5 at 211 is catch plate 212 having cam face 263 and axle seat portion 264. When the door is elevated the axle rides the cam which slows down door movement. Then the axle seats at 264 so that it and the door is caught in door open position.

Adjacent thereto and pivoted at 265 is a release bar 266 to which is attached pull rope 255. Bar 266 is disposed relative to axle 2I'I when seated, and pivot 265 is so disposed relative to seat 264 that when the bar is tilted counterclockwise in Fig. 7 the axle 2|! is forced by the bar 266 from its seat 264 and released for door closing.

If bar 266 is disposed in door release position thereafter, engagement of axle 2|! in door closing and latching position will reposition bar 266 as shown by the full lines in Fig. 7.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 8, 9 and 13. Therein 3I43I5 indicates a channel type track upon which is struck tongue 328 to anchor the upper end of spring 321 enveloping a large portion of tube 334 slotted at 338 to take head 339 of axle 3H mounting wheel 3I6. The brace rod is indicated by numeral 32I.

Disposed at the upper end of said channel tracks and pivotally mounted thereon at 36I is a catch member 362 having cam portion 363 with beveled edge 363 and bearing portion 364. Adjacent thereto is stop 364 Portions 363 and 364 are notched at 365 to seat one end of resilient member 359 having bearing portion 369*. Cotter key 368 looks said member to the latch.

The wheel engages portion 369 and tilts members 362 on pivot 36l. Then the wheel axle rests upon portion 364, initially engaging stop 364 if the same overruns. Downward pull upon the door releases the axle from the latch and door lowering can be effected.

Preferably the lower end of said track 3 has its side flanges 3l5, see Figs. 10 to 12, turned inwardly as at 336 to form an elongated retainer and guide for spring 321, the lower end having connection to eye bolt 330. The inturned portions of the flanges are of sufficient extent to guide the tube and spring assembly throughout its vertical movement during the opening and closing of the door.

accommodate the lower end thereof and the tube bears on cap or cup 332 secured by nut 333. Herein carried by bolt 330 is a pair of plates 33%, the outline of which is shown in Fig. 12, and therebetween is a felt silencer 333 The lower end of the spring and tube is guided by the movement of the plates 33!! in the channel provided by the inturned channel sides 336.

It will be noted that the links 21 are subjected only to tensile stress throughout the entire movement of opening and closing of the door. Thus, these links may be of relatively small crosssectional area, and extremely simple of design, which are considerations of import in the manufacture, installation and functioning of the hardware connected with overhead doors. Being purely tension members, these links may even consist of cables or chains, not being subject to bending in the operation of turning the door.

Whereas the links and the springs are shown as attached to the rails I4, the latter is, in effect, a part of the door frame when installed, and for all practical purposes the parts are attached to the door frame, broadly speaking.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an overhead door structure having an opening including a frame, the combination of vertical guiding rails mounted on the frame at either side of a door opening, a rigid door to close the opening, axles projecting laterally from the door at points intermediate the top and bottom of the door, rollers on said axles movable over the rails, means on the door frame, connected to the door and acting to exert an upward pressure on the axles in line with the rails to urge the door from lowered position to raised position, and links pivoted in the door at points near the top thereof, and pivoted to the door frame at points thereof below the position occupied by said axles in the lowered position of the door, said links constituting tension members whereby to turn the door about said axles as the door rises along the rails.

2. In an overhead door structure having an opening including a frame, the combination of vertical guiding rails mounted on the frame at either side of a door opening, a rigid door to close the opening, axles projecting laterally from the door at points intermediate the top and bottom of the door, rollers on said axles movable over the rails, means on the door frame, connected to the door and acting to exert an upward pressure on 'the axles in line with the rails to urge the door from lowered position to raised position, and links pivoted in the door at points near the top thereof, and pivoted to the door frame to points at the sides of the door, the lower ends of said links being pivoted at points below the position occupied by the rollers when the door is lowered.

3. In an overhead door operating mechanism, the combination of vertical guiding channels mounted on the frame at either side of a door opening, a rigid door to close said opening, axles projecting laterally from the door at points intermediate the top and bottom of the door, rollers on said axles movable over the channels, a rigid bar alongside each channel, the upper end of each bar bearing against an axle, a spring surrounding each bar, said spring attached at its lower end to the bar, and anchored at its upper end to the channel whereby the spring is placed 'under tension when the door is lowered, and links on either side of the door, the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the door at points near the top thereof and the lower ends of the links being pivoted to the door frame at points below the position occupied by said rollers in the lowered position of the door.

4. In an overhead door'operating mechanism,

the combination of vertical guiding channels mounted on the frame at.,-either side of a door opening, a rigid door to close said opening, axles projecting laterally from the door at points intermediate the top and bottom of the door, rollers on said axles movable over the channels, a rigid bar alongside each channel, the upper end of each bar bearing against an axle, a spring surrounding each bar, said spring attached t its lower end to the bar, and anchored at its upper end to the channel whereby the spring is placed under tension when the door is lowered, links on either side of the door, the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the door at points near the top thereof and the lower ends of the links being 50 pivoted to the door frame at points below the position occupied by said rollers in the lowered position of the door, and means on the track adjacent the lower end of the bar to guide the bar in its vertical movement.

5. In an overhead door operating mechanism, the combination of vertical guiding channels mounted on the frame at either side of a door opening, a rigid door to close said opening, axles projecting laterally from the door at points in- 60 termediate the top and bottom of the door, rollers on said axles movable over the channels, a rigid bar alongside each channel, the upper end of each bar bearing against an axle, a spring surrounding each bar, said spring attached at its lower end 55 to the bar, and anchored at its upper end to the channel whereby the spring is placed under tension when the door is lowered, links on either side of the door, the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected to the door at points near 70 the top thereof and the lower ends of the links being pivoted to the frame at the sides of the door at points below the position occupied by said rollers in the lowered position of the door, a plate attached to the lower end of each bar, and guid- 75 ing means on the channels through which the 7 'platemoves during the raising and lowering of the door.

6. In an overhead door structure having an opening including a frame, the combination of a door frame, a rigid door in the frame, a roller vcarried on the side-of the door at a point intermediate the top and bottom of the door, a vertical track on the frame at the side of the door over which the roller moves, a link pivotally connected at one end to the door near the top thereof and at the other end to the door frame at a point below the position occupied by the roller in the lowered position of the door, and means on the door frame, connected-to the door and acting on the roller "to urge the door upwardly from lowered position to raised position.

7. In an overhead door construction, the combination of a door frame, a rigid door in the frame, a roller carried on the side of the door at a point intermediate the top and bottom of the door, a vertical track on -the frame at the side of .the door over which the roller moves, a link pivotally; connected at one end to the door near the top thereof and-anchored at the other end to the door frame at a point below the position occupied by theroller in the Flowered position of the door, means acting on the roller to urge the door upwardly, said last named means comprising a bar bearing againstithe roller and a spring parallel to ,the track and attached at its upper end to the ,door frame and at its lower end to the bar.

' 8. In an overhead door construction, the combination of .adoor frame, arigid door in the frame, a roller carried onthe side of the door at .a point intermediate the top and bottom of the door, a vertical track on the frame at the side of the door ov er which the-roller moves, a link pivotally connected at one end to the door near the top thereof and anchored at the other end to the door frame at a point below the position occu-.

the door frame and at it slower end to the bar, and means on the track adjacent the lower end of the bar to guide the bar in its vertical movement.

9. As an article of manufacture, an overhead door construction comprising a rigid door, a guideway adapted for attachment to the vertical sides of a doorway, a spring anchored at one end on said guideway, a rigid arm attached to the other end of said. spring and extending in the direction of the anchored end of said spring, roller means on the end of the said arm away from its spring-attached end and adapted to roll along said guideway, a door, said roller means attached to the side of said door at an intermediate point thereof, and a second rigid arm pivotally attached to said guideway and pivotally attached to the side of the door near the top thereof.

10. In an overhead door structure having an ''.oper;ing?:inc1uding.za frame, a rigid door, means extending from each side of the door, located intermediate the top and bottom of the door and defining a horizontal turning axis, means on the door frame and connected to the door whereby tourge said first means upwardly, and means anchored in'the door frame at a point below the position occupied by said first-mentioned means when the door is lowered and attached to an upper portion of the door to constrain the said upper portion to movement in an arcuate path as the first saidmeans'is moved vertically. CHARLES J. MANVILLE;

REFERENCES CITED 4 The following referer'i'c'es are of record in the file of this patent:

V UNITED, STATES PATENTS Number 

